Painting of the Nine Immortals

Chapter 421: The Zither of the Crouching Dragon

Translator: _Tat_ Editor: Fish_Creek

Before the Bai Clan's home base was a dense forest.

Inside the forest, Ling Xian was facing against seven completion levelled cultivators alone. He knew that if he didn't give it his all right away, he will be in great danger today.

Thus, he used the sixth transformative quality right away, the Zither of the Crouching Dragon!

Legend has it that this zither is able to create heavenly music that can shake nine heavens and shock all eighteen levels of hell. Even if a real dragon was here, it would be frightened by the sound and bow down!

Of course, this was just a legend. These days, pure blooded dragons can no longer be found. Thus, the legend can never be confirmed. But one thing was for sure. Nobody in the Taoism community can question the power of the zither!

To know that the first four transformative qualities of the Eyes of Execution are relatively similar in strength. But from the fifth transformative quality on, every single one is exponentially stronger than the previous. As the sixth transformative quality, the Zither of the Crouching Dragon naturally far surpasses the previous qualities. It was Ling Xian's strongest technique yet!

Therefore, as the zither shone, the Second Elder and them all had a change of face. They couldn't help it but to stop their steps and stare at the mysterious black zither.

The entire zither was black, however, different from the normal zithers, it had eight strings rather than seven. Every single string was transparent and thin like a spider web. The entire zither was reflecting off light. Even the sun light paled in comparison.

"This is… the legendary Zither of the Crouching Dragon!"

The Second Elder recognized this ancient instrument and couldn't help it but to frown.

The other completion levelled cultivators frowned as well as they stared at the handsome young man. Their eyes flashed with worry.

The Zither of the Crouching Dragon was very prominent and had been known for tens and thousands of years. Thus, everyone here recognized the zither and couldn't help but to be shocked.

"So you know some things."

Ling Xian's expression was calm as he glanced around. Summoning the zither, it flew to him and exploded with the energy to split open the sky.

"Hmmph, so what it is the Zither of the Crouching Dragon? So what you have the Eyes of Execution? I don't believe that under the alliance of us seven, you can get away!" The Second Elder hissed.

"I am not going to get away. But your alliance can't do much." Ling Xian was emotionless as his undefeatable Qi seeped out of him. Alongside the Zither, it appeared even more horrifying.

The Second Elder grinned sarcastically and mocked, "With attack from seven of us, even if you are a real God, you will die here."

"Then why don't you try."

Ling Xian said slowly, feeling too lazy to speak any more. He placed his long and thin fingers on the zither.

"Go!"

The Second Elder coldly smiled, and attacked alongside the other six. Every single one had a horrifying demeanor and swore to kill Ling Xian here and now!

However, against the seven of them, Ling Xian's expression was calm and unaffected. It wasn't that he didn't think anything of these people here. It was that playing the zither required a calm heart. If he wasn't calm, how can he create heavenly music?

Ding, dong.

A crisp sound rang, strong like water hitting rocks and crisp like a singing bird. The moment the sound left the zither, the entire forest was shaken up. Even the leaves fell off the trees.

In that instant, Ling Xian's entire aura changed. No longer behaving like all land was his, he turned into a man of calmness. Like a real immortal who had seen it all, all noises around him had disappeared and he entered a state of serenity.

There was only the zither in his eyes. There was only the zither in his heart. As for the seven completion levelled cultivators, they had been frozen in midair the moment the zither rang, as if they were under a spell or controlled by a wave of mysterious power.

"Heavenly song… Petrifying Wind Waves."

Ling Xian's expression was calm and was seemingly frozen in a state of nothingness. He was without joy and without sadness. As if he had seen through the truth in all, every time his fingers plucked at the strings, emotions exploded.

Clang…

One sound travelled for three thousand miles. Like the autumn wind, it was cool and tranquil. It was light as if it could rise up to the skies, but at the same time, heavy enough to fall into deep wells.

Instantly, the wind no longer blew and the leaves no longer rustled. The entire space was frozen.

There was only music. It was soft but heavy, hasty but slow. It echoed throughout the air.

"Dammit… this sound…"

The Second Elder gritted his teeth and moved around his Golden Dan in attempt to block the sound. Sadly, the sound waves were not that easy to block.

This song itself was prominent enough to spread for miles. Though the sound had no offensive abilities, it did wonders to stop the enemies. However, the enemies can only be contained in a short amount of time. Additionally, the person playing the zither can only focus on playing the zither and cannot attack during this time.

If this wasn't the case, then the song Petrifying Wind Wves would be far too insane and would not be the weakest song out of the three great songs. This song was the prelude of the Zither of the Crouching Dragon. To play the other two songs, this song must be played first.

"Petrify the sky, petrify the earth, petrify the wind, trap the immortals, trap the gods, trap all spiritual beings…"

Mumbling strange words, Ling Xian continued to pluck at the zither. With his white robe floating in the wind, he looked extraordinarily similar to a true immortal who descended into the world of the mortal. With all objects around him unmoving and frozen, the drunken music sounded even more lonely, distant, and graceful.

Truly exceptional.

Clang, clang…

Like a blade leaving its sheath, the music was sharp as Ling Xian continued to pluck at the strings and compose his song. Every ring of it turned into a shapeless attack that exhibited an immense amount of power and light. It completely sealed this space.

His hands were the only moving things. The music from the Zither was the only sound.

Beside him, Bai Xiao Qi was petrified as well. However, her expression was full of infatuation. She felt like this zither was out of the world and it was difficult for her to find herself. Of course, Ling Xian was the reason why she was so infatuated at this moment.

He was already handsome with great mannerism. And now, his slender hands that were playing the zither made him look even more out of the world. How could she not fall for this?

Reality was that Ling Xian didn't know how to play the zither, not one bit. However, the Zither of the Crouching Dragon was not a normal Zither. It was equipped with the three heavenly songs. Thus, when he started to play, he entered a state of daze. The score of the songs appeared in his head automatically and his hands almost moved on their own. This was why he was able to play such good music.

After the Second Elder and them were pinned in the air, the crisp sounds suddenly changed. It was no longer soft and gentle, rather, it became tight and hasty!

Immediately, all beings in the area were reawakened. The Second Elder and them regained their freedom.

However, just as they were about to attack Ling Xian, another song came on that echoed throughout the sky!

"Heavenly song… Crouching Dragon."

Ling Xian uttered out a few words and his fingers lightly touched the strings of the zither. Then, he began to play the second heavenly song: Crouching Dragon.

In that second, the Second Elder's face turned ugly. The rest of his group began to shake with fear!